Electric snap-switch.



C. C. STIRLING.

ELECTRH) SNAP SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 19, 191?.

1 267,693. Patented May 28; 1918.

CLARENCE C. STIRLING, 0F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE HART &

HE'GEMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A COR- PORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SNAP-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 193.

Application'filed October 19, 1917, Serial No. 197,421.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE C. STIR- LING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Snap-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric snap switches. The primary purpose I have in View is the provision in an article of. the character set forth, of means by which a switching member can be easily and readily snapped between on and ofl positions through the agency of a single element, which is generally but not essentially, operated by hand.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification I have shown in detail one convenient form of embodiment of the invention which to enable those skilled in the art to practise the same will be set forth fully in the following description. The novelty of the invention will be included in the claims following said description.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a switch involving the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows and with part of the actuator broken away.

V Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view, the sec.- tion being on the line 4.-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow and showing the switching member and certain other,

parts in different positions by full and dotted lines.

Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrams showing different ways of wiring up.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several views which are on different scales.

The device as shown comprises a support such asthe back 2 usually of some insulating material. In addition to the back 2, is a casing 3 customarily formed from sheet metal and receiving within it the base 2. the parts in question jointly supporting and receiving the switching mechanism and Y certain associated parts as will hereinafter more particularly appear. The metal casing or cap 3 preferably incloses a lining as 4 of some suitable insulating material. There may be and preferably are extending through the body 2 the three screws 5, 6 and 7, the screws being generally triangularly arranged or touching the points of a tI'i-' angle. To one of the screws 5 and 6 a wire as 8 maybe connected, while to the third screw 7 a wire as 9 may be connected.

I have shown in Fig. 5 how the wire 8 is connected to the screw 6 and in Fig. 6 I have illustrated how said wire may be connected with the screw 5 and a wire 8 connected with the screw 6. It will be clear, therefore, that if the screws 6 and 7 in the arrangements shown by Fig. 5 are bridged electrically, the switch will be on or the circuit closed. In Fig. 6 it is clear that if the screws 5 and 7 and 6 and 7 be electrically bridged, the circuits will be closed in alternation. In Fig. 5 I have shown by full and dotted lines the circuit as respectively open and closed, while in Fig. 6 I have illustrated by full and dotted lines the two circuits respectively closed. I will hereinafter set forth how these particular results can be achieved.

Between the heads of the screws 5 and 6 and the insulating support 2 as best shown by Fig. 3, I may dispose washers l0, and between the inner ends of the washers and the heads of the-screws are carried contacts 11 which alternately receive the free end of a switching member as will hereinafter more particularly appear. The incoming and outgoing wires may be held to the screws 5, 6 and 'i in any desirable manner as by nuts 12 on the rear or outer ends of the screws as best shown by Fig. 3.

In the housing presented jointly by the back 2 and easing or shell 3 is the body 13 of an actuator such as that denoted in a general way by 14. This body, which generally consists of an elongated fiat strip fits flatwise and travels longitudinally on the support 2. As shown it has near one end the longitudinal slot 15 through which the screw 7 extends, the other end being furnished with a projection 16 to travel in the longitudinal slot 17 of the support 2. In this way I provide for the proper guiding in a straight path of the body 13 which as I have already ii'liCeliTQCi is a pom. of the 9,6131 zitoi: This: hoeiy terminates ii; the projieo tion 18 which is providefi. with an outwei'diy extending stud i9 projecting through regisiering pei-ioretioiis 2G in the casing 0F sheii 3 and lining 4- s0 to he Within easy reach of the user of ihe switch. The actuate? 1 2 is provided its rear end: with a projection 21 constitutinge suitahie shifiaoie stop as Wiii hereinofier appear:

The screw 7 Serves as e suitebie pivot for a switching memhef as 22, said switching membey eing in the form of an elongated strip having a wedge or arrow-iike head 23 which is peiiomted to receive the iimei enfi and piaie. portion of the screw 7, the switching member 22 as Wiii he inferred, turning on the SGEEW as a, pivot, The taii poreion of member 22 has notches 2% the switching formed in its sies, and these adapted alternately to receiee the siop 2 1 as shown hesi; by foil dotie iiroes in Fig. eceuotoi" i4: is fiimishe Wici a suifizehie opeiating POFiZiOE ole spring 25 the secured in a notch 2'63 in the seep 2 siiown hest Fig. 2, opereising portion 25 is resilient (we is some Whoi; eiongateei, its Ire e he' i'ciniehe with a fir Fig sii wedge h toil 6L member circ tZEi-iQD ciyciiit move-ti eioiieo.

"or 1s spring; 25, When. the finger of the operator is removed from ihe projection 19 the spring 30 which is stretched and which is connected respectiveiy with the screw '4' end ihe sorew on the strip 13 will return SELiGi strip 13 and as a consequence the projection 19 to bile initial position thereof which if; shown as occupymg in Fig. 2 and also in Fig 3. During this forward; movement ihe fixiger 2i? traverses the face 27, passes out of Contact therewith and resumes its iniziel position J Fig, 4'. To move the switching member 22 from the iotied line position -to the iuii iine position in said g. 4- the some action is foiiowed except thee the finger 26 Wiii rie eiong the face Where;- E cieim is: 1. The combination of o switching memheving a Wedigeiihe head, an actuator a yiehiehie finger on the acme-to? adapts-cl to traverse Wedge head and time shii i the switching member when ehe ieizter is reieeeee. a deiene to "prevent movement traveieei e oermin xiieiencec u member having a WQdiZE-ijlie u eiiciohie actuator a yieidehie fig If ociepteai to traverse to "i the switching mem= Cling switch 12" 1 heoci m1 1 JJ 2 J moor 5111a the yic Demo echoes-too theremi shown b the full lines in said switching memberuiitii the acme-hot an osciiiator'j a certain distance, the yieldable finger being connected with the actuator.

6. The combination of an actuator, means for causing the movement of the acutator in a straight path, an oscillatory switching member having a wedge-like head, a detent connected with the actuator, the switching member having notches to be entered 53 the detent in alternation, and a yieldable finger connected with the detent, the finger bemg adapted to traverse the shift the switching member, and the detent serving to prevent movement of the switching member until the actuator has traveled a certain distance.

wedge head to thus 7. The combination of a switching member havin a wedge-like head, an actuator, a spring inger on the actuator adapted to traverse the wedge-head and thus shift the switching member when the latter is released, and a detent to prevent movement of the switching member until the actuator has traveled a certain distance. 7

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE O. STIRLING. 

